Finger rule on car longevity

SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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It's always funny to me how you only hear the obsolescence rant from people whose stuff was broken...especially in this case where the car was bought in a non-running state to begin with (where was the warranty then?).

Often hear this from people who had iPhones that "died just as the warranty ended" and then I see the state of the phone and it's no wonder to me.

Meanwhile I have an original iPhone 3GS still working perfectly and 4 year old 4S right in front of me.
 
supersunbird

supersunbird

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Archer said:
wahahahahahahaha
I've got some tinfoil hats you may be interested in - you're firmly in conspiracy territory
But what do I know, I only design vehicles for a living. Better to listen to some random youtube rant

Just think for half a second - if old cars were built to last, then according to you the manufacturers wouldn't have been making money back then... except they clearly did as they as still around today.

And fall apart after warranty is out? :rolleyes: Fearmongering at it's finest. But like I said, I'm very happy for people like you to sell your cars just before warranty expires - means I can get cheap cars
Click to expand...

Lets assume (generously) that most cars have at most a 5 year warranty... lets look at all those cars driving with ABC 123 GP numberplate format vs those with the AB 12 AB GP format in Gauteng, most of those would be 5 years or older... I guess they must me figments of my imagination, since they would have all fallen apart after warranty?

EDIT: YAY! for quality second hand vehicles for us non fearful people.
 
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Jet-Fighter7700

Jet-Fighter7700

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Archer said:
wahahahahahahaha
I've got some tinfoil hats you may be interested in - you're firmly in conspiracy territory
But what do I know, I only design vehicles for a living. Better to listen to some random youtube rant

Just think for half a second - if old cars were built to last, then according to you the manufacturers wouldn't have been making money back then... except they clearly did as they as still around today.

And fall apart after warranty is out? :rolleyes: Fearmongering at it's finest. But like I said, I'm very happy for people like you to sell your cars just before warranty expires - means I can get cheap cars
Click to expand...

I agree with you totally; old cars were better built;

but look today, they out of production, why? because they don't generate enough sales;

case in point something like the citi golf, built for many years with few changes,
yes dosent meet safety standards and emission standards, but you still see them around,
or dare I mention the VW beetle (original), or the Tazz that people NEVER sell.

only thing is they dont break down easily; so they dont generate enough sales, so they out of production;

maybe I am a conspiracy nutter, but why were only 50 tucker torpedo's built?
and why was the electric car, thats not a new invention, so few and far between;

goes to show you that something that theres no money in will be cast aside for something that makes money, basic rule of all businesses;
dont know about you but this whole ECU story of mine has taught me the hard way this;
 
Archer

Archer

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eg2505 said:
only thing is they dont break down easily; so they dont generate enough sales, so they out of production;
Click to expand...

In one breath you say the old cars dont meet safety and emissions standards. But in the next you say they are not made anymore because they dont break. So which is it then? You're proving yourself wrong

You made a carp decision buying the car you did. Stop blaming someone else for it. Man up, learn from it and carry on with life

edit: or maybe I'm thinking of someone else who bought some dodgy car that was fubar from the beginning? :confused:
 
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SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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eg2505 said:
case in point something like the citi golf, built for many years with few changes,
yes dosent meet safety standards and emission standards, but you still see them around,
or dare I mention the VW beetle (original), or the Tazz that people NEVER sell.
Click to expand...

I always laugh at Citi Golf people telling me how cheap the parts are because they I ask them why they need parts all the time.

It's the one car that I constantly see stranded next to the road. There is nothing quality about it.

and why was the electric car, thats not a new invention, so few and far between;
Click to expand...

Now there is a reasonable conspiracy. They were purposely stunted by the car and oil industry.

dont know about you but this whole ECU story of mine has taught me the hard way this;
Click to expand...

And yet buying a new car to stay in warranty every 3-5 years will still cost you more than the ECU replacement so it still doesn't make any sense.

Like people who want to buy new cars to "save petrol", but the .5 l/100km they "save" is negated by the new higher installment every month.
 
rorz0r

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It's pretty much always cheaper to just drive whatever car you've got than to buy a new car. But the op said the best way to be always driving a "reliable" car. Old cars can give **** and new cars can give **** so if you have a car that's been perfectly fine for the last few years, chances are it will be pretty good for the next few years so just stick with it.

There certainly are parts that need to be replaced at certain intervals and in some cases those intervals are higher than most people keep cars these days but that shouldn't be seen as "unreliable". If you really want to keep it reliable find a solid mechanic and have him check for things that should be changed for "preventative maintenance".

eg. if a pump normaly needs replacing around 100-110k kms and you're on 120k kms and the pump breaks, it's not unreliable. You were just taking a chance, and normally that comes back to bite you when you're late for work or going on a trip etc. If your cars over 5 years old and paid off then consider putting some of the cash you'd be spending on a new car towards some maintenance instead of the normal "wait and see what break and then fix it" which is "normal" these days and works find for the 0-100,000km/0-5yr part but not so well after.
 
P

PostmanPot

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SauRoNZA said:
I always laugh at Citi Golf people telling me how cheap the parts are because they I ask them why they need parts all the time.

It's the one car that I constantly see stranded next to the road.
Click to expand...

More than likely because it's so common (for reasons).
 
spiderz

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At +- 10 years you can start looking at replacing most plastic and rubber engine/suspension parts/radiator
 
Jet-Fighter7700

Jet-Fighter7700

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rorz0r said:
It's pretty much always cheaper to just drive whatever car you've got than to buy a new car. But the op said the best way to be always driving a "reliable" car. Old cars can give **** and new cars can give **** so if you have a car that's been perfectly fine for the last few years, chances are it will be pretty good for the next few years so just stick with it.

There certainly are parts that need to be replaced at certain intervals and in some cases those intervals are higher than most people keep cars these days but that shouldn't be seen as "unreliable". If you really want to keep it reliable find a solid mechanic and have him check for things that should be changed for "preventative maintenance".

eg. if a pump normaly needs replacing around 100-110k kms and you're on 120k kms and the pump breaks, it's not unreliable. You were just taking a chance, and normally that comes back to bite you when you're late for work or going on a trip etc. If your cars over 5 years old and paid off then consider putting some of the cash you'd be spending on a new car towards some maintenance instead of the normal "wait and see what break and then fix it" which is "normal" these days and works find for the 0-100,000km/0-5yr part but not so well after.
Click to expand...

now this is a solid piece of advice; I do agree with it;

problem is to "predict" what it will be a fanbelt that cost R120 or a ECU that cost R3K.

yes your right if you dont maintain a citi golf it will fall apart quite quickly; fair enough;
but the opposite is true unfortunately, if you maintain ANY car old or new, it will fall apart on a schedule;

some will take longer granted, and some will fail sooner, yes man up definetly and live with that;
I do agree but its just interesting to note what cars are considered for keeps and what isnt;
 
Sinbad

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I don't believe cars fall apart on a schedule. Some parts by their nature have limited life. That's very different to being designed to fall apart.
 
F

featherspeed

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Definitely agree cars can last very long i do my own Maintanace and except for the engine and gearbox everything is ok just when you get rust you have real interesting problems
 
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